More than 30 women have come forward to RTÉ Prime Time with allegations of sexual harassment, misogyny, bullying and intimidation during their time working with the National Ambulance Service (NAS).
The programme reported that an unpublished HSE review from 2021 also highlighted concerns about the culture and leadership within the service, including allegations of bullying and harassment and criticism of what it described as a traditional “command and control” approach to management.
The review was conducted by the HSE’s Workplace Health and Wellbeing Unit and has not previously been made public.
RTÉ Prime Time also obtained internal correspondence indicating that senior managers had raised concerns directly with NAS Director Robert Morton about gender discrimination, misogyny and sexual harassment.
The women who spoke to the programme include current and former paramedics and emergency medical technicians. Many chose not to reveal their identities because they remain employed by the service.
While acknowledging the contribution of colleagues across the NAS, including many men, the women described what they believe is an entrenched workplace culture in which inappropriate conduct was sometimes tolerated and complaints were not adequately dealt with.
The NAS employs more than 2,400 people across the country.
One woman, identified by RTÉ Prime Time as Hannah, said a senior male colleague made a series of sexually explicit remarks while they were working together during an overnight shift.
She said he questioned her about her sex life and preferences before making an explicit comment about wanting to engage in sexual activity with her.
Hannah also alleged that the same colleague made a sexualised remark about the body of a young female patient after the crew had treated her.
She said the experience left her deeply uncomfortable but that she was afraid of being regarded as a “difficult woman” if she made a complaint.
Another woman, referred to as Barbara, described difficulties arising from the power imbalance between junior staff and more senior colleagues.
She told RTÉ Prime Time that a senior male employee had commented on her underwear and that, while they were helping transport a patient downstairs, he put his hand on her backside.
She said she did not feel able to respond at the time because her attention was focused on the patient.
Barbara also alleged that the man touched her and massaged her shoulders on other occasions, including in front of colleagues.
“He had that power over me, and he knew that he had that power, because I was not going to get through my internship year unless he signed me off,” she said.
“He had my career in his hands. I felt if I said anything at all, that I would have been penalised for it.”
RTÉ Prime Time heard from several women who said they had either been discouraged from making formal complaints or feared that doing so could have negative consequences for their careers.
Another woman, Aoife, alleged that a senior colleague placed his hand on her leg and moved it towards her crotch.
She said she reported the incident to a supervisor but was advised against taking the matter further.
According to Aoife, she was told: “You’re wasting your time even reporting it, because nobody’s gonna do anything, and he’ll do it again because he’s done it before.”
She said she received little support afterwards and subsequently left the service.
Concerns were also raised about the HSE’s procedures for dealing with workplace complaints.
Hannah said she later submitted a complaint about her experience but was told the allegation was inconclusive because there was no witness or documentary evidence. She said this further undermined her confidence in the process.
David Hall, chief executive of Lifeline Ambulance Service and a former member of the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council, described the NAS as having historically operated within a male-dominated environment.
He characterised its structure as “semi-militaristic” and said it had developed what he described as an “unhealthy culture of dominance”.
Dr Alan Eustace, Assistant Professor of Private Law at Trinity College Dublin, told the programme that employees could understandably be reluctant to make complaints if they believed doing so might jeopardise their careers.
He said any attempt by managers to discourage workers from raising complaints would be viewed “extremely unfavourably”.
The concerns raised by staff echo findings contained in the unpublished HSE review carried out in 2021.
That review examined the NAS leadership team and identified issues including mistrust, poor workplace culture and negative leadership styles.
It stated that inappropriate behaviour, including possible bullying and harassment, “had not been called out”.
The document also referred to a traditional “command and control culture” and a tendency to apportion blame.
According to the review, some senior managers believed that challenging those in authority could result in them
